Advice for starting your first FPS game and improving your stance
Advice for starting your first FPS game and improving your stance
Gamer for years, not really into fast-paced shooters. Some buddies introduced me to Overwatch, and guess what? I’m pretty bad at it. I’m trying to fix my posture first—I’d love some tips or suggestions on how to improve it. I’ve been working on a few things: 1. My elbows stay on the armrest no matter what I’m doing. Is that normal? I see people with elbows by their sides, and it feels strange to me. 2. My sensitivity settings are way too high compared to other players. I’m using a G502 at 1440p, started at 3000 dpi with setting 15 (default). I’ve slowly lowered it but it still feels off. 3. From what I’ve learned, most gamers rely on wrist and arm movements, which is something I’ve never done—my arms are always on the armrest. How can I get used to that? Do most people use their elbows as a pivot for their arms?
1. That's how I game. just do what's most comfortable to you. 2. Unless you're a l33t gamer, it shouldn't matter much. if you're playing for fun, and don't care about the astronomically small difference low DPI will give you at the lower ranks of a game, then don't do it. do what's fun, not what people on the internet tell you is best. this is the best way to game. (irony is ironic) 3. I use only my wrist. Basically the same posture as you. I'm not participating in any esports tournaments, but it hasn't hampered my performance so far, I think.
I'm using the identical mouse. When LGS profiles are involved, I configure three or two DPI settings—1800, 1500, and 800—and adjust the DPI shift based on the task (800 for close work or scoped, hipfire, etc.). For my hand size, palm grip works best, but you should experiment to find what feels right. Remember to keep your spine upright for health; position your elbows level with the desk and place your wrist on a soft surface that promotes blood flow. The monitor should sit centered so your neck moves naturally, lifting only when necessary to maintain alertness.
Choose what suits you best. Slouching or tightening can impact your performance. You'll sense if your sensitivity is off or something feels wrong. Notice comments like 'this is too low' or 'too high'—don't worry about others' setups. Some recommend low sensitivity and DPI on CSGO (400dpi, 1.2sens), but for me, with hypermobility, it feels more natural and works well.
Start with a large mousepad for better comfort. Smaller pads are common defaults, so larger ones will feel more natural. Use your elbow instead of your wrist to protect yourself and improve precision. Adjust the sensitivity so your full arm movement covers exactly 360 degrees. Even if you're not playing highly, getting used to this setup early is wise. It only becomes easier with consistent practice. I used to play only on consoles until 2007; it took time, but I adapted and never looked back.
Mouse grab technique, arm alignment, and sensitivity choices vary by person. I favor a palm grip with little motion. I don’t prefer sniper-style; it’s fine when I can, but it suits my supportive approach. I’ve tried this setup before discussing posture during gaming. The mouse has changed, yet it remains my go-to: Spoiler Notes from that image. Keeping hands near each other is key, so I pair a tenkeyless keyboard next to the mouse pad. In games, I shift more for center alignment than typing. For DPI, I stick to 1600-3200, sometimes jumping to 500-800. In-game I set it to 3 or 1.5 based on how the game calculates it. With sensitivity and DPI, pick a game, join an empty server, and test. In the game, try 1 or 2, then see if you can reach the mouse with your software. If not, look for in-game help options.
Individuals exhibit varied postures, some with extreme positions yet remain resilient. It’s all about personal experience unless you’re floating effortlessly. 2 & 3. The situation is astronomical in scope, but we all experience that gradual reduction in sensitivity. I recommend a small adjustment—descending to a lower position or range—and practicing movement of the arm. Over time it will feel more natural.
1) My arm lays on my arm rest until I play Genji, where I'm required to turn more quickly but don't want to raise my DPI/sensitivity. I aim almost entirely with my wrist. 2) My sensitivity is 2.75 at a DPI of 6600, and I'd recommend moving towards more DPI and lower sensitivity. The reason for an insanely high DPI vs sensitivity comes down to something known as pixel skipping. Basically, if your sensitivity is too high, rather than moving your mouse more quickly, Overwatch will skip over pixels instead. If you're playing more mechanical skill based heroes, it can mess up some of your shots (McCree and Widowmaker come to mind). Here's a great tool to figure out if you're pixel skipping (you probably are), if the box where your resolution is at is red, you're pixel skipping. Blue means you're good. 3) Aiming with your arm is easier to learn, but aiming with your wrist offers a faster reaction time at a greater risk. Unless you have the muscle memory learned over a decade or more, I would recommend learning to aim with your arm. To put aiming with the wrist in perspective, it's been how I've aimed for nearly 7 years now, and my accuracy is subpar for my competitive rank (I compensate with game sense). At least with Overwatch, you don't need to be mechanically skilled to be good at the game, instead you can focus on learning game sense and communication. A popular player known as EeveeA managed to climb to top 500 on 3 accounts playing only Mercy.